Dear Papa,
There will never be a day that I don't think of you, there will never be a day that I don't take how proud of me you were into my motivation in school and life in general. There will never be a day that I don't look up at the sky and wonder if you're looking back at me. I don't have anything that was left unsaid before you passed away because I talk to you all the time. I've never met a man so wise, more generous, kind, or more admirable than you. It will never be real to me that you're gone; since I'm away at school it feels like I'll come home and you'll be there sitting in the corner chair of the kitchen. I don't regret not giving you that last haircut, I know that you loved to keep your hair long and crazy.
The memories we shared are unforgettable. I am so grateful that I got to spend two whole weeks for 20 summers with you in the beautiful Door County, Wisconsin. I am so thankful for the long drives to Peninsula State Park in the mini van with you, and the trips to go get smoked salmon in Gills Rock at Charlie's Smoke House. I wish that I would have written down all of the stories that you told me. I could have written a whole book about the adventures that you had in your amazing life! I will never be able to walk into our cabin without noticing the emptiness at the dinner table. I'm going to miss staying up late and having you talk to all of the cousins while we crowded around the kitchen table. Thank you for building the cabin, Papa, it is my favorite place in the whole world, and I know how much you loved it. I remember how I would be in the water at Sand Bay and would look up and see you in the van watching us swim, that always made me happy.
I will always aim to be as kind and as helpful to my patients as a future nurse as you were to your customers. It is so amazing that you were able to touch so many people's lives during your life as a man of business and your life as an amazing friend. You were the best friend anyone could ask for. You would sit and listen to me talk for obscene amounts of time...even if you did "rest your eyes" for awhile I knew you were listening. I know that the boys loved hanging out with you every night, they became so close to you and I know they treated you as one of the group because you were... and still are.
I remember when Pat and I would have midnight cereal in Door County and we would sit around the kitchen table and listen to the most outrageous stories that you would tell. Every one of your grandchildren looked up to you and aspire to be as wonderful of a person that you were one day. The boys picked up your love of music. They are by far the most talented piano players I have ever heard and I know that you love the baby grand piano being played right next to your office. I bet you sit down there and listen to them jam out to Piano Man and American Pie. I know that you loved photography and I am so grateful to have it in my life. I am taking a photography class in college right now and I am using your classic A1 camera... I hope I do your hobby justice. Taylor picked up your love of travel, she loves every aspect of the world and takes in every beautiful part of it when she goes on adventures. I will try my best to take a photograph of a sailboat in Door County as beautiful as the one hanging on the old barn wood wall of Land's End that you captured.
I want you to know that I love you. I want to tell you that I love you one more time. I wish I could see your wise blue eyes again. That lucky day of September 7th was the last day I saw your face. On my birthday, September 4th, 2015 you taught me how to trick the nurses by holding your breath to lower your blood pressure. I am so grateful that I came home for my birthday that weekend. I should have stayed at the hospital longer that day. I should have hugged you tighter. I wish that the last picture that I took of you wasn't on my makeup app that put makeup all over your face. I am ever so thankful for the voicemail that you sent me, I will cherish it forever. I will never forget the memories we shared and I will always strive to make you proud. "I love you so very much...See you Later."
I Love you. Forever and Always.
Lexie
